Vacuum oup mounting for fruit pitting machines



Aug. 8, 1950 A. BESAG 2,518,274

VACUUM. CUP MOUNTING FOR FRUIT FITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 14, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 //VVfNTOR ARNOLD BfS'AG Wwm AT TURNfYJ Aug. 8, 1950 A. BESAG 2,518,274

VACUUM CUP MOUNTING FOR FRUIT'PITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 14, 1946 '4 Sheets-Sheet'Z av I W LZLLM/ I AT TOR/V576 8, 1950 A. BESAG 2,518,274

- VACUUM CUP MOUNTING FOR FRUIT FITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 14, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet s lNVf/VTOR ARNOLD 5 [SA G AT TOR/W5 YS Aug. 8, 1950 A. BESAG 2,518,274

VACUUM cu MOUNTING FOR FRUIT FITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 14, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 //v VEN TOR 2, Z/G lf ARNOLD BfSAC-J AT TORNEYS Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED sTA-TES PATENT OFFICE VAC 1111?! UP. MOUNTING FOR FRUIT I -PITTINQ MACHINES I "A iiiolci Bs'ag, EastMalvern, Victoria, Australia Application'Noveniber 14, 1946, Serial no. 709,713 In Australia Noyember 16, 1945' I This invention relates to suction cups and-3 .195

e m n of m c ne r t in rui s adjusted position, wh'reby' the fruit is firmlyhe'lol aspeaches or thelike,

In the usual designs of peach pitting machines, the fruit after-being manually positioned on a conveyor, e. g. on impaling bla ies with thesuture Q t e fruit le at s i rthez sm la as i impaling blades the fruit is then carriecl by metal cups to u t halv n mechanism d s q moved along a metal plate by the cups to pit lo catingand removing devi ces.

Applicant el eve Pla 1 1 -.m e 0.1 d not holdvarious sizes of fruit firmly, anql the fruit when halvedwill v have a' natural tendencyv tomove in the cup While the fruitis slidabiy moved along the metal-plate. This movement is most likely to occurwhenthe pit is unevenly out. which is frequent, as the pit may erackin some natural plane under the impact of the fruit halv ing mechanism. 1 i S ch possibility v m veme 9 h rui makes it necessary to proviqe pit locatingmecltv anism to adjust the, pitting means accordingly.

The principal objective of the present inventionis to provide in fruit pitting. inaehines means for holding thefruit; in a predetermined posi tionand retaining such position during subsequent processing operations whereby; the use of pit locating mechanisms may be avoided.

With the ahovestatecl objective in view, a j fl'l llt pitting machine, according-to this invention provided. with at least. one surition eup mount ed for angular movements to; engage fruitat a pick-up position and efieetselif-adjusting holding engagement with said fruit; ana automatieall y operable means for maintaining thecup in selfadjusted position duringtransit and subsequent processing operationsupon the fruit.

. In a preferred-embodiment, here is at least one pair of coacting suction cups mountedf or guided. axial. movement towards each other to engage a fruit at a pick-up position, eaoh cup mounted for angular movements to effect. a selfacljusting holding engagement, with the fruit, and-automatically operable means for maintain ing eaohcup in self adjustect position during I 2' Casts. j ('01. its-+23) flush engagementand said ineans autinnafically operate to lock the suction cup in the self-,

the cup thetpe position, during transfer; movement of the our) to an i at subse uent 5mg essing stations at which the fiiuitinay'h and then pitted.

1 is a side elevation of a peach pitting machine.

ili'q 'ss View s was elevatign and- I 3 is a plan view with saw meanness-1 omitted.

" F g. 41's News iew at the van/um means in aecordano with the resent invention for can. trolling the operation (if the'suotion' cups and;

V FigI S is a'ti fisterse'sectiofi (in line {if g V 7H. t. Figs; 5. f1 and s are diagrammatic views inns-1 trating the operation of'tlie" valvular frieans lustrated By Figs; i hat;

Fig. '9 sa. from eiva'cien (if one of the suction cups and. associated locking mechanism. Fig. '10 is a side eievat'ipjn or the station ouii i1 lustrated-in'Fig. 9 afid' V V "Fig. llis a pie-n 'vivv, partl in setidil, 6f tl i suction cup Shawn sings. 9' and 10'. i

Figs. 12 and 13 are diagrammatic vi ws fliestrative of the aetmn of nae suetiorieiips in Hold 111g peaches difiering'finsizf.

In the drawings 1'4 designates gerigmny m2; rnai-nfra ne oi the machineto which secured a bracket lioarryirig main driving'inotor" it 5611-.

' pled through redaction gar Box" I? to manta are provided" 1 gums sand throughthe earbox llan'd Ge eva; drive 9 to inalirislia ff n carried in bearingsflzi."

Fixed to tile imam Shaft it! ar'etw'o spaced three armedspiderszbthearms 23 of which latter f""t'h; forked ndsj24 Brid in t mfoike fen s 24 are two spaces guide bars" 25 along which lattera r-ing st is aria l'lgd td niov. Tfiaifriage carries" a roller .21 enga ing a can track; 28 fixed to the transit and subsequentprocessing operationsu-pon the fruit. -In operation, with the natural suture of the fruit located normalto the axis ofjtheoupinount ing. the latter is axially dyar cere1auve1y to the fruit and upon contacting the surface of the latter, the cup may describe any limitedangular ino'vement necessary to ensure that thej 'suction exerting face'of the cup seats flush withthooni-f toured surface of the fi'fliti .1 Said. face maybe o; pneaveffdrm; ensure main frame .4. The carriage 26 together with rod sesame on andprdjcting" from th forked end 25 0f Sbideiarm Zfaltr'y the 's'uctioheup 6 and operative meohanisifitliereffor to he herein aftei des cribd. Y I 4 The'po'rtioii a, of the riiain frame i suspdi-ts an" electric motor 3T which ispdriv Coupled have secured therein frames" iZ'Pia /ing' mountegi therein oscillatable pitting knives 43 of any suitable construction.

Each pitting knife 43 is mounted on a shaft 44 rotated by pinion 45 which latter meshes with rack 46. The rack 46 is carried on a rod 41, one end of which latter has a roller 48 engaging a cam 49. Each cam 49 is carried on shaft 59 supported in bearings The shaft 59 is drive coupled through bevel gears 52 and 53 and 54 and 55, the bevel 55 being connected to the constantl rotating shaft of the wheel I9a of the Geneva drive I9.

Also meshed with the bevel gear 55 is a bevel gear 56 mounted on shaft 51. Mounted on the other end of shaft 51 is a bevel gear 58 with which is engaged a bevel gear 59 mounted on shaft 69 carrying a cam 6I operating a guided push rod 62 connected by a link 63 to one end of a bell crank lever 64. The other end of the bell crank lever 64 carries a forked impaling blade 65 arranged under the action of the cam 6I to assume a position where a peach can be located by an operator in the impaling blade 65 and to be moved to a position for the peach to be picked up by the suction cups 39.

It is important that the fruit should be placed within the impaling blade 65 with the suture plane of the former coincident with the plane of the latter.

Accordingly, the operator places each fruit within the impaling blade with the suture plane in coincidence with the plane of the blade and thrusts the fruit downwardly and forwardly, thereby causing the lower and upright edges of the blade to cut into the fruit and contact the stone which is resultantly properly located for subsequent removal by, the pitting knife independently of the shape and size of the fruit.

Upon the fruit being thus positioned, the impaling blade 65 is actuated to transfer the fruit to the pick up position wherein the fruit ing 61. The passage 9| in hollow stem 19 is in communication with passage 82 formed in hemi-spherical boss 18. The passage 82 communicates with the interior of the cup mouth 15.

A groove 83 is formed in the stem 19 and ports 84 connect said groove 83 with the passage 8I in said stem. The groove 63 is in continuous communication with a duct 85 provided in an elbow 86 formed integrally with sleeve 89 and having a stem 81 fitted and rotatable in a sleeve 88. Sleeve 88 is formed integrally with a chamber 89.

The duct 85 communicates through ports 99 and groove 9| in stem 81 and passage 92 with the closed chamber 89. The axes of the stem 19 and stem 81 of elbow 86 intersect at the centre of the hemi-spherical boss 18 whereby it will be apparent that the suction cup 39 can rotate in a substantially horizontal plane about the axis of the stem 19 and also in a vertical plane about the axis of the stem 81.

One wall of chamber 89 consists of a flexible diaphragm 93 secured in position by a clamping ring 94. The diaphragm stem 95 is pivotally connected to arm 96 of a three armed lever 91, pivoted at 98 on a bracket 99 formed on chamber One arm I99 is pivotally connected to an adjustable push rod I9I supported in guide I92. The other end of push rod IN is connected to a brake head I93. A brake shoe I94 is positioned on the head I93 to engagethe hemi-spherical boss 18 and brake shoe I95 is arranged to engage cylindrical portion I96 formed on elbow 86.

Toggle arm I91 of three armed lever 91 is pivotally connected to adjustable toggle arm I99 carrying a brake shoe I 99 arranged to contact is engaged by the suction cups and carried thereby to the saws 31 and 38 and subsequently to the pitting station.

The suction cups 39, co-operate in opposed pairs, but for the purposes of description one an abutment I I9 formed on a bracket II I extending from the carriage 26.

At end of shaft 59 are bevel gears II2 drivin shaft II3 carrying cams H4 and H5. Cam II4 actuates a guided rod II6 connected through link II1, lever II8, link II9, bell crank lever I29 and. link I 2| to guided push rod I22. The push rod I22 is arranged to contact cross-head 19 fixed on rods 69 slidably supported in carriage 26, when the carriage 26 are parallel rods 69 which at the outer ends are secured to cross head 19. The innerends of the rods 69 are attached to a plate 1I slidably mounted on rod 66. Secured to rod 29 is a stop plate 12 through which the parallel rods 69 are free to slide.

Interposed between the outer end of rod 66 and the inner face of the cross head 19 is a compression spring 13. A further spring 14 is interposed between the plate H and the cup assembly 61.

The suction cup 39 comprises a flared mouth 15 having a rubber or like resilient sealing lining 16. Extending axially from the cup 39 is a the spider arm 23 is at position to engage fruit carried by the impaling blade 65. Similar mechanism is provided on the opposite side of the machine to simultaneously operate the cross head 19 of the opposed cup assembly 61.

Cam II5, through guided rod I23, link I24, lever I25, link I26, bell crank lever I21, link I28, guided push rod I29, contacts cross head 19 when one of the spider arms 23 is at the pitting position. Similar mechanism is provided on the opposite side of the machine to simultaneously contact the cross head 19 of the opposed cup as sembly 61.

The actions of the suction cups 39 in gripping, holding and releasing the fruit are controlled by rotary valvular means I39, which are respectively associated with the suction cups 39 on the oppositely aligned spider arms 23.

Each rotary valvular means I39 comprises a fixed annular manifold I3I connected at I32 to hollow boss 11, having a hemi-spherical end 18.

Extending at right angles from the boss 11 is a hollow stem 19. The stem, 19 is rotatably mounted in a sleeve 89 formed in the cup mountradially disposed tubular branches I35.

Also formed in the valve housing I33 are three air ports I36 in constant communication with the atmosphere. The air ports I36 are spaced axially apart from the vacuum ports I34, and each air port is angularly separated from and cooperates with one of the vacuum ports, as pres ently described.

In each valve housing I33 is a rotary valve I31 which is intermittently rotated by the Geneva drive I9 through arcual distances of 120 degrees concurrently with the successive angular displacements of the spider arms 23 through the same angular interval.

In the rotary valve I31 there are three radial ports I33 which are positioned respectively in the same transverse planes as the three vacuum ports I34, and as the valve rotates the former ports I 38 connect successively with the latter ports I34.

The rotary valve I3? is mounted upon the main shaft 29 wherein are formed three axial passages I39 which connect with the radial ports I33 and also with radial passages I49 formed in the main shaft and the hub MI of spider 22 and connected through nipples I42 to flexible tubes I43 whereby the valvular means I 39 is connected with the chambers I39 previously referred to.

- Formed in the periphery of the rotary valve I31 and associated respectively with the three radial ports I38 are circumferential grooves led which extend, as shown around the major portion of the periphery of the valve (see Fig. 5').

The circumferential grooves M4 lie in the same planes as the vacuum ports I34 and the radial ports I38, and it will be understood that as the rotary valve I3! rotates the circumferential grooves I94 in moving past the vacuum ports I34 connect the latter with the radial ports I38, the axial passages I39 and radial passages M0 and by way of the flexible tubes its with the chambers 89.

It'will be further understood that this con nection of said chamber 39 with the vacuum ports I34 is maintained during the complete movement of the circumferential grooves IM past the said vacuum ports, corresponding to the period commencing with the alignment of the leading ends I55 of the grooves I44 with the vacuum ports I34 and the departure of the trails mg ends I46 of said grooves from said vacuum ports. I

Also formed in the periphery of the rotary valve i3! are longitudinal grooves I4? which conmeet with the circumferential grooves i 34 and radial ports I38, and as the rotary valve 53'! is angularly displaced the longitudinal grooves conmeet with the air ports I35 at a certain point of the rotation of said valve for the purpose of breaking down the vacuum in the chamber 89, as hereinafter described.

In the operation of the machine the operator places in the above described manner, a peach on the impaling blade 65 which as previously mentioned carries the peach into a pick-up position.

Simultaneously a pair of oppositely disposed suction cup assemblies 61 move to and stop at the pick-up position wherein the cup assemblies are in readiness to be advanced to engage the suction cups 39 with the peach.

For simplicity in explanation of the operation the description will be confined to one cup assembly and subsequent operational movements thereof, it being apparent that similar operations aresimultaneously occurring in the opposed c0- acting' cup assembly.

At the pick-up position push rod I22 is moved 6 tc'contact cross head In and thrust the latter and the rods 69 inwardly, the latter sliding through the carriage 26 which at the pick-up position is located adjacently to the inner limb of the forked end 24. The inward movement of the rods 69 thrust the plate 'II against spring M which presses the cup assembly '51 inwardly. This inward'movev ment engages the suction cup 33 with one sideoi the peach. It will be understood that the opposite cup 30 engages the opposite side of said peach. 4

As illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 engagement of the cups 30 with peaches of various sizes'are shown and in which is'diagrammatically illustrated the engagement movement of said cups on contact with the peach.

It is necessary that the cup assembly be yie1dably mounted so that the cups'3il may engage various sizes of peaches, while permitting'the push rod I22 to complete its full movement. This is provided for by means of springs '23 and M which upon engagement of the cups 3!! with the peach are compressed by the further inward movement of the push rod.

The movement of the cups 3!! about the hori-' zontal and vertical axes of the stems 8i and 19 permit said cups to correctly seat upon'the peach on contacting the surface thereof (see Figs. 12 and 13). This movement is permitted by rotation of the stems I9 and 81 in the respective sleeves 89 and 88. Prior to the engagement of the cups 351 with a peach, communication is effected between the cup 39 and the source of vacuum I8 by the groove I44 in the rotary valve I31 so that air is being drawn into the cup. After the mouth I5 has been closed by the sealing engagement of the rubber lining 15 with the surface of the peach the inflow of air ceases and the resultant vacuum. in the mouth I5 effects a firm hold on the peach. As the peach is thus gripped the resultant vacuum causes the diaphragm 93 to be drawn inwardly of the vacuum chamber 89, thus imparting motion by the stem 95 to the three armed lever 9i which effects engagement of the brake shoes I96 with hemi-spherical boss I8 and brake shoe I05 with cylindrical portion I93 to thereby lock the cup 30 against displacement during subsequent move ment. Simultaneously the brake shoe lee engages abutment Hi) to prevent displacement of the cup assembly 61 relatively to the carriage On the peach being securely held by the pair of opposed cups 39 the Geneva drive I9 actuates the main shaft 20 to move the spider arms 23 carrying the opp sed cup assemblies 61 holding the peach, to the next position. During this movement of thearms 23 the peach is moved past the saws 3"! and 38 which sever the peach into two portions. After the peach is severed the cam tracks 28, by the rollers 2! slide the carriages 25 to separate the cup assemblies 6-! and with them the severed portions of the peach.

The brake shoe I09, retains the natural suture plane of a fruit during transport from thepiclt: up station to the saws 31 and 38. It is desirable to halve the fruit in its natural suture plane,'and it is assumed that the fruit was previously impaled on the blade 65 with its suture plane coincident with the plane of the blade, as above described.

The natural suture plane, however, is by no means always symmetrical with the exterior sur- 7 face of the fruit. Resultantly, the cup assemblies 61 on either side of the fruit will take up a medium position and the springs 13 and 14 will float, the two opposed cups being attached by suction to the fruit which at this stage is still whole.

If one half of the fruit relatively to the suture, is smaller than the other, the suture might not remain in the plane of the impaling knife and the slitting saws, the latter and the former being coplanar.

It will be apparent that the correct positioning of the suture is maintained by the action ofthe brake shoes I09, which lock each cup assembly exactly and automatically in the pick-up position, thereby maintaining the natural suture in the plane of the impaling blade for the subsequent sawing and pitting operations.

Under the influence of the curve in cam tracks 28 the two peach halves slide into pitting position flush with the top of the pitting table, and the cam-controlled action of the rods I29 serves as an additional security to hold the 'fruit firmly down on to the pitting table, to resist the action of the pitting knife which exerts a very considerable dislocating force upon the fruit half. Upon the fruit being discharged by breaking of the vacuum, the brake shoe I09 is also automatically released and resultantly the spring I3 retracts the whole cup assembly outwardly, as is necessary to permit the cups to slide into the picking-up position without, for instance, interference with a very large fruit carried upon the impaling blade.

The retraction of the cup assemblies into the 3 outer positions is the main purpose of the springs 73. When picking-up takes place the springs 3 do not actively participate as the springs 14 provide the axial yielding required by various sizes of fruit, except in the case of the picking-up of an abnormally large fruit when both springs will be compressed.

Upon the suction being broken, the fruit discharged and the brake shoe I09 released, the springs I3 retract the whole cup assemblies outwardly to a position wherein both springs I3 and H are expanded, the cups 30 are clear of the largest fruit possible and the cross-heads I0 clear of the inner end of the outwardly retracted rods I22.

The separated portions of the peach are then carried by the continued movement of the arms 23 to the pitting position. At this position push rod I 29 moves the cross head 70 as previously described to effect engagement of the peach portions with the pitting tables 4I whereupon the pitting knives 43 are actuated to sever the pit halves from the peach flesh.

Upon completion of the pitting operation the Geneva drive I9 moves the arms 23 to the pick-up position. During this movement the circumferential groove I44 in the rotary valve I31 is connected by longitudinal groove I41 with the air port I36, thereby breaking the vacuum in the cup 39 so that the pitted peach portion is released for discharge.

It will be understood that a fruit impaled upon the blade 65 with the stone positioned thereon as described, is transferred to the pick-up position and engaged by the suction cups and locked thereby with the stone properly located for halving in the suture plane by the slitting saws and removal of the halved stones by the pitting blades. .Upon continued movement of the rotary valve 8 I3'I-and the spider arm 23, the circumferential groove I44 again connects with the vacuum port I34, thereby connecting the mouth 15 of the suction cup 30 with the pump I8 and by means of the cam track 28 and roller 29 the carriage 25 is moved inwardly to return the cup assembly-61 to its initial position at the pick-up position; I

In lieu of operating the brakes by suction as previously described, for maintaining the suction cups in self adjusted position it will be apparent that the brakes could be operated by a solenoi in circuit with a switch operated by a peach seat ing in the cup. In this case release of the peach by breaking the vacuum would open the switch controlling the solenoid, thereby releasing the brakes.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for holding fruit for processing in a fruit pitting machine; at least one pair of opposedly aligned coacting suction cups for the fruit, each cup being mounted for angular movement and having automatically operable means for maintaining the cup in the adjusted angular position and an articulated support for each suction cup, said support comprising a supporting member, a member having limbs disposed at right angles to the supporting member, a stem on the suction cup rotatably mounted in one of the limbs, a stem integral with the other limb and journaled in the supporting member, the axes of the stems being located in planes intersecting at right angles on the axis of the suction cup.

2. In a mechanism for holding fruit for processing in a fruit pitting machine having a vacuum source; at least one pair of opposedly aligned coacting suction cups for the fruit, each cup being mounted for angular movement and having automatically operable means for maintaining the cup in the adjusted angular position, and an articulated support for each suction cup, said support comprising a supporting member, a member having limbs disposed at right angles to the supporting member, a stem on the suction cup rotatably mounted in one of the limbs, a stem integral with the other limb and journaled in the supporting member, the axes of the stems being located in planes intersecting at right angles the axis of the suction cup, the stems and right angular member having passages connecting the suction cup with a vacuum source, the supporting member having a chamber formed therein communicating with the passages, braking meansengageable with the articulated support coacting with the suction cup, and means actuating the braking means associated with the chamber movable in response to the creation of a vacuum in the passages and chamber.

ARNOLD BESAG.

R EFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,304,892 Leefeld May 27, 1919 1,403,852 Ensele Jan. 17, 1922 1,490,493 Tenney Apr. 15, 1924 1,503,390 Tenney July 29, 1924 2,040,114 Watkins May 12, 1936 2,147,870 Watkins Feb. 21, 1939 2,177,967 Watkins Oct. 31, 1939 2,444,298 Kline June 29, 1949 

